Vehicular carried plow coupling

ABSTRACT

A coupling between a snow plow and the front of a truck including a housing assembly adapted to be mounted on the truck and a loop and frame member adapted to be mounted on the snow plow. The housing has a convex front surface and a recess in said surface defined by rearwardly converging walls. A hook means is mounted in said recess and is adapted to pivot about an axis between open and closed positions. Means are provided for locking the hook member in its closed position. A frame member is adapted to abut the convex surface on the forward face of the housing member and the loop projects rearwardly from the frame member into the recess where it is held in place by the hook means.

United States Patent [191 Gledhill et a1.

[ 1 VEHICULAR CARRIED PLOW COUPLING [75] lnventorsi William Gledhlll; Phillip Leland Sherman, both of Gallon, Ohio [73] Assignee: Gledhill Road Machinery Company,

Galion, Ohio [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 211,076

[52] U.S. Cl 280/481, 280/477, 37/42 R, 172/272 [5 1] Int. Cl 860d 3/00 [58] Field of Search 280/504, 510, 481,

280/478 R, 479 R;37/42 R, 50, 51, 52; 172/272, 276

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,659,362 5/1972 Bell 37/42 R 3,605,906 9/1971 Coates 172/272 R 3,464,129 9/1969 Bogenschutz 37/50 R 3,410,008 11/1968 Standfuss 37/42 R 7 f r /6 a [11.1 3,746,368 [45 1 July 17, 1973 2,322,446 6/1943 Hudson 280/510 R Primary Examiner-Leo Frlaglia Assistant Examiner-Randall Schrecengost Attorney-Fay, Sharpe & Mulholland ABSTRACT A coupling between a snow plow and the front of a truck including a housing assembly adapted to be mounted on the truck and a loop and frame member adapted to be mounted on the snow plow. The housing has a convex front surface and a recess in said surface defined by rearwardly converging walls. A hook means is mounted in said recess and is adapted to pivot about an axis between open and closed] positions. Means are provided for locking the hook member in its closed position. A frame member is adapted to abut the convex surface on the forward face of the housing member and the loop projects rearwardly from the frame member into the recess where it is held in place by the hook means.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures VEHICULAR CARRIED PLOW COUPLING BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The subject invention is directed toward the art of snow plow couplings, and, more particularly, to an improved coupling especially suited for releasably connecting snow plows or the like to vehicles such as trucks. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art that the subject couplings are adaptable for other than snow plows but for convenience only snow plows will be discussed. i

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a releasable coupling which, when being coupled to the plow, provides a slight resistance so that the driver of the truck knows when a positive engagement has been made.

The coupling of the subject invention is designed so that the plow can readily tilt to follow road contours and the crown while simultaneously permitting raising and lowering of the plow.

Many different types of prior art coupling arrangements have been used and all suffer from a variety of defects. For example, one common problem is that during a coupling operation, the driver of the vehicle is never sure exactly when a positive engagement has been made. The usual practice is to use two men for the coupling operation, one to drive the truck forward and one to signal and perform the other needed outside operations.

A second disadvantage of many prior art couplings is that they do not permit the plow blade to have free movement for both side tilting and the usual raising and lowering. Those couplings which do satisfy the above discussed points are generally extremely complex and relatively costly.

Broadly, the invention proposes a coupling including a housing assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle and a loop member adapted to be connected to a plow push bar. The housing includes a first force receiving surface having a curved contour across its width. A recess extends inwardly from the curved push surface, preferably said recess has tapered lateral side walls. A hook or latch member is positioned in the recess and is adapted to pivot about an axis generally horizontal and parallel to the push surface. A forwardly facing surface of the hook member is exposed in the recess and behind said forwardly facing surface is a downwardly facing recess contoured to encompass a portion of the loop member. A guide member is positioned beneath the hook in the recess and, in combination with the forwardly facing surface defines a guidemouth such that when the housing is moved toward the loop, the hook member is cammed upwardly. Additionally, there are means for locking said hook member in a down or closed position.

The invention contemplates that the locking means will comprise a cam face extending outwardly from the hook and engaged by a pivotally mounted plate movable between a first position in which it engages the hook and a second position wherein it engages the cam face.

Preferably, the loop member has a circular cross section and the downwardly open surface of the hook member is similarly contoured. Additionally, the loop means preferably has a V-shaped configuration generally corresponding to the lateral sides of the recess. The

relationship between the loop, the side walls of the recess, and the hook, are such that the loop can both tilt and rotate a substantial amount relative to the housing while it is locked in operative position by the hook.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is the provision of a relatively simple plow coupling which permits tilting and lifting of the plow while connected to the truck and which also provides the driver with an indication of when a positive coupling has taken place.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a coupling arrangement of the general type described wherein a positive lock of the coupling is provided by a simple lever operated lock plate.

The above and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing a typical plow as sembly on which the coupling device of the subject invention is particularly useful;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the main component of the coupling assembly of the subject invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1 and showing the coupling in engagemerit;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 6-6 and 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the assembly in locked position and in phantom in an uncoupled position; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the various components of the assembly in their position during a coupling operation.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is'shown a relatively conventional snow plow assembly 10 which is connected to a truck or similar vehicle 12 by the improved coupling assembly 14. The plow assembly 10, as previously mentioned, is relatively conventional in construction and includes a standard blade 16 carried by a support frame 18. The blade is spring mounted to the frame 18 by springs 20 so that it can undergo some forward tilting should the lower edge of the blade encounter an obstacle. This structure is functionally similar to known force relief devices and will not be described in detail as its operation will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art from viewing the drawings. In the embodiment under consideration, frame 18 is also provided with slide shoes 22 which are adjustably mounted from the frame 18 in conventional manner.

As shown, the blade assembly is adapted to be raised and lowered through a hydraulic cylinder 24 which extends from a vertical, vehicle mounted support frame 26. The piston rod 28 of the cylinder 24 is pivotally connected to a lever 30 which extends outwardly from the upper end of the frame 26. A chain or the like 32 extends downwardly from the outer end of the arm 30 into engagement with the frame 18. In addition to its lifting function for the plow assembly, the chain 32 also limits the downward deflection of the ends of the blade 16 relative to the arm 30.

The frame 18 is mounted on a pusher bar assembly 34 allowing it to be adjusted about a vertical axis to permit the angle of the blade to be varied. A pin 35 extends through a bracket 36 and plate 37 to lock the assembly 34 in place. Holes 39 illustrate the various allowable adjustments of the bracket 36 to orient the blade 16.

As can be appreciated, the connection between the pusher bar assembly 34 and the support frame 26 must be such as to allow free up and down pivoting movement of the pusher bar assembly at the connection. Raising and lowering of the blade must be permitted without disconnecting the blade from the truck. Similarly, there must be free lateral tilting of the assembly relative to the center line of the support frame 26 so that the blade can closely rise and fall with the crown of the road and otherwise shift for various slight elevational changes in the road contour. It is inherent in the structure that if the right hand side of the blade is lifted the left hand side will drop. This is because the allowable tilting movement pivots about a horizontal axis running approximately through the center line of support frame 26. Chain 32 limits the drop but not the lift of one side or the other.

In the subject arrangement, this allowable pivoting and tilting is accomplished by an improved coupling assembly 14 which is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 through 9. Referring in particular to FIGS. 2 through 4, the coupling assembly 14 is A recess 54 is formed between he pece 42 44 and eend inardl herefrom. A bet shon in FIG. 2 hrogh 4 e rece 54 inclde a pair of inclined ide walls 56, 58 which extend between the upper plae 47 and he loer plae 48. he ide all define a omeha -hed rece hich ere to perform a laeral gide function for a loop member 6 which eends outwardly from the pusher bar 46 a hon in FIG. 3. The arrangemen and confiraon of he loop 6 ill beqenl be decribed in deail. Hoeer for he preen i hold be noted that, a frame or book support assembl 62 i aociaed ih8c 135 145 combinaion the recess 54. The assembly 62 includes a first pair of generally vertically extending, spaced apart parallel frame plates 64, 66. Inclined angle braces 68 and 70 extend behind the plates 56 and 58 in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A rear plate 76 is welded or otherwise positively joined to the pairs of plates 68, 7S and 64, 66.

Pivotally mounted between the plates 64 66 is the hook member 80 best shown in FIG. 5. Hook member 80 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin 82 having an axis which extends horizontally and generally parallel to the axis of the curved push surfaces 42, 44. The hook member 80 has an outwardly facing surface 84 which is contoured so that when the hook is in the down or latch position shown in FIG. 5, the surface 84 is inclined at a slight angle relative to the horizontal. Positioned immediately beneath the hook 80 is a relatively narrow guide plate or ridge 86 which is welded or otherwise positively joined centrally of the recess 54 between the bottom plate 48 and the rear plate 76. The forward end of the guide plate 86 is contoured such that it forms, in combination with the surface 84 of hook 80, an outwardly flaring guide mouth 90. Immediately behind the outwardly facing surface 84, the hook has a downwardly open recess 92 which is contoured so as to closely receive the loop 60.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the contour of the surfaces defining the recess 92. As shown, in the left-hand or forward portion of the recess 92, the hook has a relatively smooth rounded contour which gradually merges into the flatter, slightly inclined contour shown in FIG. 7.

It should be noted that the pivot point for the hook is defined by the pin 82 and is located substantially in horizontal alignment with final location of the apex 94 of the loop 60 in a coupled condition, see FIG. 4. Thus, as the forward portion of the loop enters the mouth between the face 84 and the guide bar 86, a substantially horizontal component of force is required to cam the hook in the clockwise direction so that the loop can be received in the recess 92. As soon as the loop 60 moves beyond the face 84, the hook 80 will drop by gravity and insertion of the loop will be limited by frame member 46 encountering pusher faces 42, 44. With this arrangement it is easy for one man to connect a truck to a plow. The truck will move forward easily until it encounters faces 84 and 86. There will be some give in the forward movement until the frame 46 abuts the pusher faces 42, 44 where great resistance to forward movement will signal that the coupling is engaged.

Means are provided for locking the hook member in the coupled position. Additionally, means are provided for manually moving the hook to an open position for uncoupling. In the subject embodiment, these means include a cam plate member 96 which is welded or otherwise positively joined to the hook member 80 at its upper end. As best shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 the cam plate 96 includes a downwardly open recess 97, partially formed by an inclined cam face 98, which is located to receive a circular crank rod 99 which in turn is pivotally mounted from the vertical plates 64, 66. In the embodiment under consideration, the crank rod 99 extends horizontally above the housing 40 and has a crank handle 100 formed on the outer end. A lock plate 102 extends laterally from the crank rod 99 at a location between the vertical plates 64, 66. As best shown in FIG. 5, the lock plate 102 is sized so as to be closely received between the rod 99 and a latch surface 104 carried on a protuberance 106 of the hook 80. When the crank 99 is rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the lock plate 102 holds the hook member in the down or coupled position. Movement of the lock plate 102 out of its lock position is prevented by a spring biased latch pin member 110 which, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 extends through the vertical plate 66 and a second mounting plate 112. The latch pin 110 is merely an L-shaped rod which is constantly biased to the left (as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4) by the spring 1 14.

The overall operation of the coupling assembly can best be understood by reference to FIGS.8 and 9. FIG. 8 shows the assembly fully coupled with the hook latched in its down or coupled position. Note that the loop 60 is tightly held between the hook and the guide plate 86. The latch plate 102 is locked in its lock position by the pin 110. To uncouple the assembly, the pin 110 is retracted and the shaft 99 rotated to move the lock plate 102 to its dotted line position of FIG. 8. Clockwise rotation of the lock plate 102 causes the plate to engage the inclined surface 98 of the cam plate 96 to rotate the hook 80 to a position wherein the loop 60 is released. A small stop plate or bar (see FIGS. 3 and 4) limits the rotation of the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 8. At this time, the loop 60 can readily be retracted, thereby releasing the plow assembly.

To place the assembly in condition for a coupling operation, the shaft 99 is merely rotated counterclockwise to the solid line position shown in FIG. 9. This allows the hook to return to its normal coupled position but, it will be noted that the lock plate 102 is prevented from moving into a lock position by the presence of the pin 110.

With the components in this relationship, the truck can be driven forward and the loop 60 will engage the mouth 90 between the hook and the guide bar 86. As the truck is driven forward, the loop causes the hook to be cammed in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 9). When the loop'has passed completely under the hook to alignment with the recess 92, the hook falls into its coupled position. Because of the relationship of the surface 84 to the location of the pivot pin 82, a substantial force is required to cause the clockwise camming of the hook. After the loop has moved into position under the hook, the pin 110 is manually retracted and the lock plate 102 moved to the solid line position of FIG. 8. Release of the pin 110 then traps the lock plate 102 in its lock position.

Because of the shape of the loop 60, initial misalignment of the housing assembly and the loop can be substantial and still the cooperating inclined surfaces will cam the two into a mated position. Additonally, because of the cylindrical shape of the loop and thecontour of the recess 92 of the hook, substantial movement of the plow support frame assembly can take place to allow the plow to adjust and closely follow road conditions. For example, FIG. 4 shows how the plow frame member 46 to move vertically, relative to surfaces 42,

44 without moving appreciably closer to said surfaces and thereby binding and inhibiting free movement. Throughout this movement, the assembly is maintained coupled. 1

What is claimed is:

l. A coupling including a housing assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle and a loop and frame member adapted to be mounted on a road grading blade,

the housing having a force receiving surface on its forward face, said surface being convex and having a substantially horizontal axis, a recess in said surface defined by rearwardly converging walls,

a latching hook means positioned in said recess and adapted to pivot about an axis between open and closed position, said hook axis being substantially parallel with said horizontal axis,

means for locking said hook member in its closed position,

said loop and frame member being coupled with said housing by said loop extending into said recess and being held in place by said latching hook means, the force receiving surface of said housing being juxtaposed to the said frame member for transmitting force from one to the other.

2. The coupling of claim 1 including a rearwardly converging mouth within said recess defined by a sloped surface on the forward face of said hook means and a plate extending upwardly from the bottom of the recess, the relief between the plate and the bottom of the recess having its minimum at the forwardmost portion of the plate.

' 3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the hook means includes a second recess having a profile closely approximating the upper surface of the loop.

4. The coupling of claim 3 wherein the forwardmost surface of the hook recess is curved away from the loop to each side of the center of said forwardmost surface.

the rearmost surface of the hook recess tapering away from the loop to each side of the center of said rearmost surface,

the taper providing less clearance with the loop at its maximum rearmost surface hook recess clearance than the curved surface at its maximum forwardmost surface hook recess clearance,,

the surface of the hook recess between the forwardmost and rearmost surfaces defining a smooth surface merging from one shape to the other.

5. The coupling of claim 1 including a protuberance on the outer surface of the hook portion,

the locking means comprising a pivotable block means movable into position above said protuberance.

6. The coupling of claim 5 including a camming surface on said hook means,

said camming surface being engageable by said block means to cam the hook means to open position.

7. The coupling of claim 1 including a camming surface on said hook means,

pivotable block means for engaging said camming surface and moving said hook means to open position.

8. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the hook means includes a second recess having a profile closely approximating the upper surface of the loop.

9. The coupling of claim 8 wherein the forwardmos surface of the hook recess is curved away from the loop to each side of the center of said forwardmost surface,

the rearmost surface of the hook recess tapering away from the loop to each side of the center of said rearmost surface,

the taper providing less clearance with the loop at its maximum than the curved surface at its maximum forwardmost surface hook recess,

the surface of the hook recess between the forwardmost and rearmost surfaces defining a smooth surface merging from one shape to the other.

e a: in: e s 

1. A coupling including a housing assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle and a loop and frame member adapted to be mounted on a road grading blade, the housing having a force receiving surface on its forward face, said surface being convex and having a substantially horizontal axis, a recess in said surface defined by rearwardly converging walls, a latching hook means positioned in said recess and adapted to pivot about an axis between open and closed position, said hook axis being substantially parallel with said horizontal axis, means for locking said hook member in its closed position, said loop and frame member being coupled with said housing by said loop extending into said recess and being held in place by said latching hook means, the force receiving surface of said housing being juxtaposed to the said frame member for transmitting force from one to the other.
 2. The coupling of claim 1 including a rearwardly converging mouth within said recess defined by a sloped surface on the forward face of said hook means and a plate extending upwardly from the bottom of the recess, the relief between the plate and the bottom of the recess having its minimum at the forwardmost portion of the plate.
 3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the hook means includes a second recess having a profile closely approximating the upper surface of the loop.
 4. The coupling of claim 3 wherein the forwardmost surface of the hook recess is curved away from the loop to each side of the center of said forwardmost surface. the rearmost surface of the hook recess tapering away from the loop to each side of the center of said rearmost surface, the taper providing less clearance with the loop at its maximum rearmost surface hook recess clearance than the curved surface at its maximum forwardmost surface hook recess clearance,, the surface of the hook recess between the forwardmost and rearmost surfaces defining a smooth surface merging from one shape to the other.
 5. The coupling of claim 1 including a protuberance on the outer surface of the hook portion, the locking means comprising a pivotable block means movable into position above said protuberance.
 6. The coupling of claim 5 including a camming surface on said hook means, said camming surface being engageable by said block means to cam the hook means to open position.
 7. The coupling of claim 1 including a camming surface on said hook means, pivotable block means for engaging said camming surface and moving said hook means to open position.
 8. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the hook means includes a second recess having a profile closely approximating the upper surface of the loop.
 9. The coupling of claim 8 wherein the forwardmost surface of the hook recess is curved away from the loop to each side of the center of said forwardmost surface, the rearmost surface of the hook recess tapering away from the Loop to each side of the center of said rearmost surface, the taper providing less clearance with the loop at its maximum than the curved surface at its maximum forwardmost surface hook recess, the surface of the hook recess between the forwardmost and rearmost surfaces defining a smooth surface merging from one shape to the other. 